Full quotes
Chief Financial Officer, international Charity
The nuggets of advice have been extraordinarily powerful - prescient, succinct and memorable. I have felt empowered and stronger, both as an individual and in a professional context. Armed with extra insights, my confidence has increased (important in my case) and I find I have a clearer perspective.
Global Executive Committee of leading advertising agency
Rod is a delight to work with, he is a supremely compassionate and considerate man. He listens very carefully and never lets his wealth of experience and knowledge predetermine the way in which he works with people. He helps and guides you to reach your own conclusions. He is brilliant at distilling and capturing the essence of a discussion and often leaves you with a pithy hook on which to further develop your thoughts. Rod is like a cold shower - invigorating, refreshing, stimulating and, of course, cleansing. He leaves you with an optimism and enthusiasm which ignites the best in you. I could not recommend him more highly.
Former senior civil servant now partner in leading coaching practice
I particularly appreciated your ability to focus on the positive rather than the negative; your perceptive way of identifying what I found most difficult and how I could tackle those issues; and your assistance in identifying at each meeting key action points or focus points for the future.
COO of international law firm
You never judged me: you gave me focus to get things done that would, and in my case quickly did, get me back on my feet. Your counsel gave me the confidence I needed to face what I had dreaded all my working life, and I was able to surprise myself.
Former investment banker now with multiple Board roles
When you work with Rod you will find you can turn intuition into motivation. You will feel a complete focus on you and your best interests, and discover a network of relevant and useful contacts which goes well beyond the traditional.
Partner in consulting boutique in hospitality and leisure
Rod is down to earth and logical, a good sounding board. Some of what he says is obvious when he says it, but you don't always think of it for yourself: how to best present yourself, typical interview questions and how to answer them without rambling, explaining how to prepare yourself to answer questions, how to get around difficult questions or to lead the interview enough not to get stuck in areas you don't want.
Senior investment banker
I particularly valued Rod's original thought processes, his independent unbiased assessment, his vast experience.
Technology equipment executive and consultant
Rod is very good at helping you not to get too emotional and to keep the right distance to events, whether good or bad. He's a great communicator, always very clear. Completely professional: he picks up messages quickly and suggests alternatives when appropriate.
Auction company Director turned private banker
It was very entertaining, which is important in these rather serious situations. And practical - it all made sense and was easy to apply.
"One of the biggest CFO roles in the public sector"
I value his personal input and judgement. He is a good sounding board, not afraid to give his views or say what he thinks, he is independent and has useful experience. Sharp as a razor.
Oil industry executive turned executive coach and strategy consultant
I liked it, I had lots of fun. We got on very well (and still do). I gained insights every time: it felt as if we were both on a journey and discovering things.
Divisional MD of household name, private equity-owned infrastructure business
Rod is an immense leveller and a marvellous confidant. He is also proving to be a very wise fellow, providing me with a degree of confidence and assurance I have not had up to now.
Rod, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support you have given me over the last few months, you have been a life saver.
General Manager of Railway Operating Company
My programme with CGS has been spot on as far as my needs go, and very enlightening. This is the first time in my career that I have got a service which meets my needs - I've had coaching and done lots of psychometrics etc. Rod is definitely delivering what I want.
Young former soldier struggling to find the right career path
I found it absolutely fascinating and feel immeasurably more equipped for what lies ahead. Since yesterday I have written out verbatim our discussion in order to digest it more effectively and now feel it's a question of getting my foot in the door prior to putting your techniques and wisdom to the test.
University graduate looking for her first job
I got a great deal from meeting you. The importance of telling little stories to illustrate points was something I particularly picked up on. I loved the ease with which you made compelling pictures!
Coach and mentor to senior City executives
Once one has seen Rod's method at first hand, suddenly the standard outplacement service, with a fixed delivery time and limited access, looks inadequate. Rod has as much experience of outplacement as anyone, and knows that all too often it misses out a simple fact: that everyone absorbs this kind of information at their own pace. You can't expect to grasp it all against the ticking clock of someone else's budget.
Post-graduate exploring career in coaching and counselling
You have an innate understanding of the person sitting in front of you and who they are; and the ability to translate what the client is saying into what they really mean: moving from confusion to insight at light speed!
Award-winning Fund Manager
I enjoyed Rod's pragmatic approach to going about things, his sensible advice; acting as a mentor, making me do things I wouldn't want to do myself, like LinkedIn. I need to be pushed.
Career General Manager with major multinational, now a Charity CEO
Thanks again for the help yesterday. My wife was listening in and her comment afterwards was " he talks sense". That is praise indeed.
Private Equity specialist, as advisor, investor and Chief Executive
Thanks for your many hours of input over the past 18 months. I am absolutely delighted with where I have ended up and there is no doubt in my mind that I would not have had the patience and courage to take this path without your counsel, support and encouragement. I am most grateful.
Middle-East based Business Development Director with global track record
Working with Rod on my career planning allowed me to focus on the things which are truly important. His sound advice, his humour and his friendship are only some of the things which I truly appreciate. It's impossible to imagine how I could have achieved this radical change in my life without him.
Leading Executive and entrepreneur in software services businesses
Rod is a powerful listener. I first met him when I felt bound to rush from one corporate leadership role to another. I wasn't listening to an inner voice that demanded a return to building my own business. But he heard it and made me listen.
He has a highly developed memory for detail and nuance. So a couple of years later, he played back that inner voice and enabled me to interpret its meaning and significance.
He is a pragmatic guide and mentor who knows how business works. On more than one occasion he has given me the tools to re-draw my own career and business route maps. However, he didn't hesitate to point out the hidden turns, roadblocks and shortcuts.
His advisory style is to illustrate from a unique store of organisational "war stories", jokes and memorable aphorisms. So, most important of all, working with Rod is fun.
HR Director for FTSE 20 financial services group
Rod did a great job dealing with our most senior departures. Although the individuals came from all parts of the spectrum, he did a uniformly excellent job in helping them deal with the past and prepare for the future. All of them found rewarding new roles and all gave positive feedback on the support Rod provided.
HR Director of major City law firm
Having issues with senior executives demands a huge amount of my time and it is not always best or even appropriate for that always to be done in house. Therefore having professional and above all credible interventions by people like Rod Chamberlain is enormously beneficial to the business and to the individuals.
Managing Partner of leading national accountancy practice
We work with Rod on some of the troubling issues which arise in a professional partnership, because we are confident of the individual care and attention, and of the professional expertise and commitment, that our colleagues will receive."
Chairman of a major Non-Ministerial Department
It was quite an experiment for an organisation like ours to use outplacement for a Board colleague, and I know how very much he valued and appreciated it.